Location of 50 Most-Populated Cities of the USA

Category: Geography: USA

Grade Level(s): K

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (Objectives):
Given access to the Click and Learn software for one 30-minutes session, students will gain a good understanding of 50 Most Populated Cities of the USA.

FIVE STEP LESSON PLAN

Set Induction / Anticipatory Set:
Ask the students if they know where Toledo is located? What about Tucson?

Instruction / Teaching to the Objective:
Explain that, while these cities are not Capitals, they ARE two of the most populated cities in the United States. Tell them that they will spend one class period learning many of the largest cities in the USA.

Guided Practice:
On your classroom computer or in the computer lab, model how the software can be used to learn 7 of the most populated cities.

Independent Practice:

STEP 1: RUNNING DRILLS IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER

Students should use the software to learn locations of the 50 most populated cities. Monitor the students by walking around the computer lab as they work. Listen to see if they are whispering.

STEP 2: RUNNING DRILLS IN RANDOM ORDER

Show the students how to select the Randomize button and run the drills in random order. Students should run the series of drills for the most populated cities in random order.

STEP 3: USING THE "RUN AS TEST" FEATURE

On the classroom computer or in the computer lab, model how to select BOTH the Randomize button and the Run As Test button for the drill for 50 Most Populated Cities. Students should run the drill for 50 Most Populated Cities with the Randomize button selected and the Run As Test button selected. Have them raise their hand to notify you or the computer lab assistant when they have 100% on their screen. Verify that they have scored 100%.

STEP 4: INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE

You might want to make up a game where you draw the names of the cities from a hat and have students tell where (which state and even which part of the state) the city is located.

STEP 5: REVIEW FOR FIVE DAYS

Cramming is not valuable unless it is followed up with frequent review. On a periodic basis, take 5 minutes and draw names of cities from a hat and have the students tell where the city is located.

Closure:
Remind the students that they will learn faster if they will review the information as they are riding the school bus or waiting in the lunch line.

EVALUATION:
Each student should have a fair understanding of the locations of the 50 most-populated cities in the USA.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS:
Click and Learn software. Names of the 50 cities cut up and placed in a hat. A basic knowledge will take one class period. You can use more time if it is important that the students learn the cities better.

Notes to teachers:
This lesson plan only allocates one class period with the Click and Learn software. This is enough time to give the students a good understanding for many of the largest cities but is not enough time for the students to learn them well. You can allocate more time if this topic is important to your school.

Lesson Plan: LP0255